Page 53 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts (Hospital for Immortal Creatures #3)

She bared her teeth in irritation, but he was scanning the valley and didn’t notice her expression. This distant, arrogant Mikhail, who believed he knew everything and had the right to command her, was driving her mad.

“The plan is to find the necklace, retrieve it, and then have you open a witch’s portal or do something magical to get us out of here,” he said.

Amelia hesitated, unsure how to break the next bit of news. She hated showing weakness in front of him, but… “I don’t know how to open portals, Mikhail. And I don’t do magic.”

He tilted his head and locked eyes with her. “You have witch blood in you, don’t you? It’s time to make use of it.”

She pursed her lips. At this rate, she might remain trapped in a witch’s gathering for some time, with one very grumpy manticore.

***

Amelia

As they headed towards the lake, Mikhail placed a steady hand on her lower back. Not so long ago, his touch had felt natural. Now, it made Amelia glance at him out of the corner of her eye.

“How do you suppose a manticore would end up at a witch gathering unless he was a witch’s lover?” he asked, his tone laced with dry amusement.

She didn’t reply, though it was impossible to ignore the warmth of his closeness. As much as his recent behaviour repelled her, her body couldn’t forget him.

Mikhail leaned in, his breath brushing against her cheekbone.

“We’ll pass by the stalls to see if the necklace is on display.

Novices attend this sort of witch gathering.

The truly dangerous ones – the traditional witch families who wield genuine magic – don’t bother with such frivolities.

I learned that while researching witches before our trip to Alberobello last year. ”

They walked past two young girls in dresses similar to Amelia’s, giggling and whispering to one another. Their speech carried a slightly stronger accent, and some of their words sounded unfamiliar.

“They can’t be older than fifteen,” Amelia observed in passing.

“These gatherings are just entertainment for the young and the timid – those wishing to dabble in magic but lacking the courage.”

When they neared the stalls, the aroma of baked apples and cinnamon drifted through the air, tickling Amelia’s senses. “Well, at least I don’t have to worry about being struck down by the black magic of some furious traditional witch.”

“Don’t count on it.” Mikhail steered her towards a stall lined with glass jars.

They squeezed past the small crowd gathered around the display to examine the beautifully labelled jars. Each contained a different ointment – for faster hair and nail growth, improved circulation, or greater stamina in bed…

“It’s not here,” Mikhail said.

They moved on to the next set of stalls, passing baked goods, silver spoons, perfumes, love potions, clothing, leather shoes, knitted toys, and even jewellery – but no sign of the necklace.

Only a few stalls remained when the crowd stirred, gathering towards the far end of the lake.

“There it is!” someone exclaimed.

“Is it starting already?” another asked.

“Come on, let’s go!”

At first, Amelia and Mikhail couldn’t understand what had captured everyone’s attention, but as they approached, the witches had formed a circle around a man in a blue tunic.

“Any idea who he is?” Amelia asked.

Mikhail shook his head. When the commotion subsided, the man cast his eyes over the gathered crowd. He was remarkably handsome, with a sun-kissed face and piercing blue eyes that resembled the clear horizon above.

“A beautiful day, isn’t it?” He glanced briefly at the sky before flashing a wide smile at the crowd. The gesture elicited a wave of sighs from several young women. “I am Balian Tata, and you are the honoured guests of the Tata family’s annual celebration…”

Mikhail’s hand clenched around her waist.

“What is it?” Amelia asked in a hushed tone.

“The Tatas,” Mikhail murmured. “One of the most renowned traditional witch families of all time.”

“So much for the assumption that there’d be no black magic…” Amelia said.

“Shhh.” Mikhail gestured for her to keep quiet.

“… the official start of the game will be at sunset, and the winner will claim the Tata family’s special prize…”

“It must be the necklace!” Amelia whispered excitedly.

Balian continued, “… each year, we welcome brothers and sisters from all over the world to delve into the history of our kind…”

“Have I ever mentioned that I hate witches?” Mikhail muttered in her ear.

“…you’re eager, and so are we, given everything we’ve prepared. We’ve invited some of the best musicians in the world, and the dancing…”

“So, it seems we’ll have to win this game,” Amelia said through gritted teeth, waiting to hear the rules. But Balian was merely warming up the crowd with promises of festivities set to begin after sunset.

After sunset.

“… when we’ll also revisit fascinating facts about our kind through a witchcraft trivia contest…”

The creatures in the crowd started murmuring amongst themselves, sending a wave of unease rippling through Amelia.

“That’s right,” the witcher declared. “This year, the game will be a trivia contest…”

Amelia held her breath.

“Enjoy yourselves!” he called out just before transforming into a flock of crows.

The birds took off with a cacophony of caws, vanishing into the sky, and the crowd erupted in applause. Mikhail and Amelia took advantage of the distraction to find a quiet spot, away from the lake.

“A trivia contest with witchcraft questions…” Mikhail turned to her, his expression critical. “How much do you actually know about witches?” The look on her face must have answered him. “Nothing at all?”

Placing her hands on her hips, she snapped back, “Despite what people say about my bloodline, I’m not a witch, and until six months ago, I wasn’t even aware immortals existed.”

Mikhail pressed his lips into a thin line – the prelude to yet another lecture, Amelia would bet. “You’re the Oracle. Can’t you turn to… whatever it is you consult and find the answers?”

“No, it doesn’t work like that.” She could have lied about her abilities, but it wouldn’t have helped them escape. “On rare occasions, I’ve thought of a question and received an immediate answer, but that’s not reliable, and it definitely won’t work in a trivia contest.”

Mikhail frowned, mulling over the problem. “Every time I visited the previous Oracle, it seemed like she had instant access to knowledge…”

“Yes, she was powerful, and I don’t have her skills. Besides, her letter said that visions aren’t my forte.”

“Then what is?”

“Do you think I’d hide it if I knew?”

For a moment, they stared at each other, as though he were trying to gauge her worth once more.

“This Tata family... There must be some connection to the necklace.” She steered the conversation away from the tension brewing between them.

Mikhail shook his head. “I have no idea, Amelia. All I’ve heard is that this kind of ‘magic’ – where you’re pulled through a portal with some sort of condition, in this case, presented as a note – can only be undone if you fulfil said condition.”

“So I have to prove I’m the worthiest, whatever that entails.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “What do we do until sunset?”

“Stay here while I check something.”

“What?”

His gaze shifted to a slope nearby. “When Balian vanished in that cloud of crows, I noticed a faint trail of smoke coming from the forest at the foot of that hill. I’d wager that’s where he went – and where the prize is being kept. I want to see if I can retrieve it before the games begin.”

She looked towards the forest. If Balian was there, it was worth a try.

“If I’m not back by sunset, join the games,” Mikhail said over his shoulder as he began walking away.

“No.”

He halted. “What?”

“I’m coming with you.”

He faced her, his jaw tightening. “You wait here.”

“We’re not together anymore, Mikhail. We’re not lovers, we’re not friends, and I don’t even live in your Hospital these days, so you don’t get to order me around.”

His eyes locked on hers with an inscrutable emotion. Or was there simply no emotion at all? “I’m not ordering you around, Amelia. I’m trying to get us out of here as quickly as possible without putting you at risk.”

“You know,” she said with a bitter smile, “you were much more pleasant when you were enchanted .”

His expression remained frosty. “Because it was easier for you to manipulate me?”

She had sworn not to let the past interfere with their mission, but she couldn’t stop herself now. “Is that what you think? That everything between us was a manipulation?”

Mikhail raised an eyebrow. “And what else could it have been? I don’t remember what we had, but that doesn’t mean I’m clueless about these kinds of dynamics.”

Her jaw clenched. “And what dynamics would that be, exactly?”

“The kind where one person is deluded…” He paused, as though reconsidering his words. “Tell you what – let’s not have this conversation. Now’s not the time for it.”

Amelia wasn’t about to be deterred. She stepped into his path.

“Perhaps for you, our relationship was built on delusion. But for me, it was about our shared passion for medicine, my admiration for everything you’ve accomplished and overcome, the thrilling conversations we could have for hours – and, most importantly, the undeniable attraction between us. ”

His eyes darkened.

She pivoted and started walking towards the forest. It wasn’t long before Mikhail caught up with her. Neither of them spoke another word.

But then again, everything had already been said.

***

Mikhail

Mikhail sensed her anger. Understood her resentment. Felt her power – a power she either didn’t know existed or deliberately ignored.

Amelia believed her witch blood was dormant, but the scent of magic lingered in the surrounding air, prickling his senses with unease whenever she was near. He wasn’t certain it was a scent in the traditional sense, but if he had to describe it, her magic smelt of incense and blood – of danger.